MotorWeek Review | 1989 Buick Riviera

Content is not my own and is owned by MotorWeek.

[@fernandorocha901]

Beautiful and confortable car. This engine 3.8L, V6 is durable

[@RaymondHaley-tz4do]

One of my favorites ❤❤❤❤❤

[@irieite100]

Touch screen was waaaay ahead of its time. Not only that, but a keyless fob? Holy crap!

[@RaymondHaley-bi8lx]

The car may not have been distinctive but the engine certainly was, which is all that matters to me, some mechanics care about what's under the hood, as well as the car.

[@jkeelsnc]

I don't normally care for luxoboats but this one I do like. Nice car.

[@dkt1976dt]

I always loved the Buick Riviera, my grandparents bought one of the last 1985s, that was when they had the V8 and were the last Big Full Sized Rivieras before the 1986 downsizing.

[@raymondhaley6185]

The only option this car never got was the S/C engine, and definitely needed it, concidering 1989-93 Rivieras weighed as much as a 1979-85 V8 models, but still❤em, though. ❤

[@nb7466]

My family had a 89 Oldsmobile tornado trofeo with the VIC in the middle. I thought the car was like KITT.

[@joshidlewine5012]

love these years of buick

[@SnepperStepTV]

Totally agree that a distracting screen in the dashboard is a confusing gimmick, one that should have remained a quirk of the late 1980s

[@jruzich43]

Had a 92 back in the late '90s/2000s and have a 93 now. My favorite personal luxury car.

[@adamcampbell8794]

I've had several Rivieras and loved them all. I found the CCC to be futuristic and reliable. Buick was way ahead

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

One of the most beautiful Buick built in the 80s! Next to the Grand National!

[@BeefyMon]

The crickets sound at the end speak volumes. Some clever editor at PBS deserves credit for that!

[@patrickmichael3384]

This wasn’t sound effects, but just the natural sound of where they filmed this and other Motorweek road tests! Also, this was from back when people still had a sense of humor. Ha ha ha!

[@BeefyMon]

Well which is it? Accidental cricket recording, or an intentionally humorous addition?

[@patrickmichael3384]

@BeefyMon it’s just how the sound was when they filmed this test. Just a coincidence.

[@BeefyMon]

Only the crickets know for sure.

[@patrickmichael3384]

@BeefyMon yep. Heh heh heh!

[@fernandorocha8459]

Buick Riviera is luxury and economic car 19 city, 29 highway ans 27 MPG

[@tommywatterson5276]

What a cute GM Mattel toy car

[@skywalker6268]

I have one now. Mines more of a gold color. Fully optioned. He said in the vid this fully optioned riviera was top of the line. It wasn’t fully optioned. Didn’t see moonroof. Didn’t have Bose sound system. You can tell because it showed a eq and Bose didn’t use an eq. He said it had six way power seats. Mine has 12 or 14 way seats. Also looked like cloth seats. Leather was an option mine has.

[@Stressless2023]

This one had leather. And he misspoke on the number of seat adjustments since this had electric thigh bolsters which were part of a premium package on these and could only be had with the leather. Does yours have the remote keyless entry they showed at 4:25? I'm surprised to see that since I thought that feature was Cadillac-exclusive in the 80's minus some Corvettes that I remember having that option.

[@skywalker6268]

⁠@@Stressless2023 yes mine does have remote keyless entry. I had a remote starter installed so I use that remote instead. If I remember correctly the four buttons were lock,unlock, trunk and a button to turn interior lights on as you approached the car.

[@michaelcharach]

That car looked like it wanted nothing to do with the cones

[@raymondhaley2419]

Luxury with a sport chassis.

[@davidpistek6241]

Rivera's had serious style 'looks great now

[@raymondhaley6185]

Buick Riviera,a luxurious test car.

[@marcatyankeepark459]

Had a 92 the best

[@patcurrie9888]

Navy blue was the best color of these. I had an 85 Riv & appreciated Buick fixing the 86-88 mistake.

[@myparadiseing]

I don't know what BMW model he's talking about, but the typical Riviera buyer was wholly American-made. BMW was not worried by it in the least.

[@malcolm6162]

A confusing gimmick lol 34 years later... Ever car will have this confusing gimmick

[@TeeroyHammermill]

Way better than an 89 Eldo.

[@michaelcoffey7362]

Nice 🥰

[@frankez1975]

Never did like that tail end treatment…..

[@tedschmitt178]

Here is more evidence that analog gauges should have disappeared in the 80s, since digital gauges started with luxury cars.

[@joestallin1842]

There's nothing wrong with analogue gauges, I prefer them

[@RaymondHaley-tz4do]

An eldorado V6 but faster than the eldorado

[@liddlebopeep]

Ersatz luxury

[@joshuagibson2520]

Corner carver? Gtfoh. I was here back then. They were no such thing.

[@christopherconard2831]

I think they were comparing it to the Buick LuxoBarges of a decade earlier. Those felt like riding a sofa that was sitting on a waterbed. But compared to other cars of the late 80's/early 90's you are right, this wouldn't even make the top ten. If handling was something you wanted I could have probably steered you towards a dozen European or Japanese models that felt as good on the highway and would still dog this thing in the corners.

[@lospoutsos8719]

​@@christopherconard2831I really miss that floaty feeling that cruisers had. We are not race drivers. Why not glide as smoothly and quietly as possible?

[@thomassmith4467]

This is one of the worst cars I’ve ever seen. Nothing about it is likable.

[@ronaldderooij1774]

The styling of the interior and exterior is not my cup of tea. Godawful.

[@aaronwilliams6989]

I'll sure tell you one thing. This car definitely looks a lot, and I mean A LOT better than that micro sized ,dull looking 1986-88 design ANY DAY!

[@ronaldderooij1774]

@@aaronwilliams6989 I have to disagree. I tell you why, the proportions are off. Small cars can be in proportion. This car, there is no line that is harmonising proportionally with any other line. Stylistically, it is a mess. Look at a Jaguar XJ series 2 Coupe to see how it should have been done.